Sri Lanka Vs Afghanistan, 2023 Asian Games, Men's Cricket Quarter-final: AFG Beat SL By 8 Runs - As It Happened

After Sri Lanka restricted Afghanistan to 116 in the first innings, it looked like the match was within their grasp. The belief strengthened when they got off to a moderately good start and were ahead of the required run rate for the first 10 overs, However, a spectacular collapse ensued as Sri Lanka went from 60/3 to 108 all out in a space of 67 balls. The young Afghan side showed fighting spirit and gumption to turn the match on its head and edge out Sri Lanka by eight runs to march into the semi-finals, where they will face Pakistan. Catch the highlights of the SL vs AFG match, which was the third quarter-final of the 2023 Asian Games, men's cricket competition in Hangzhou, China. (Scorecard | Streaming | Full Coverage | Cricket News)

9:57am: AFG Win! (SL 108 all out In 19.1 Overs)
Afghanistan have done it. They have transformed the match and left Sri Lanka stunned. SL have collapsed spectacularly to be bowled out for 108 while chasing a target of 117. 

9:32am: SL Collapsing! (SL 86/8 In 15.2 Overs)
And from what looked like a position of strength, Sri Lanka have imploded and are staring down the barrel unless their tailenders do something special. Afghanistan have turned this game around completely. 

8:53am: SL On Course (SL 59/3 In 8 Overs)
Though they have lost three wickets, Sri Lanka are ahead of the required rate and need 58 runs in 72 balls.

8:10am: SL Bowl Out AFG (AFG 116 All Out In 18.3 Overs)
The procession of batters continues and Sri Lanka have skittled Afghanistan for 116. 

7:56am: Afghanistan Tottering (AFG 113/7 In 17.4 Overs)
Afghanistan now in dire straits after losing a bunch of wickets. Not many balls left to mount a good score.

7:10am: SL Keeping Things Tight (AFG 34/1 In 8 Overs)
Sri Lanka are not allowing the Afghan batters to break free, and have restricted them to a dismal run rate of 4.25 so far. 

6:42am: Afghanistan Lose Early Wicket (AFG 9/1 In 2 Overs)
Nuwan Thushara cleans up Sediqullah Atal in the second over of the day. Afghanistan rocked early.

6:18am: Line-ups
Sri Lanka XI: Sahan Shashintha (c), Lasith, Shenan, Nuwanidu Keshawa, Shevon Daniel, Wamakulasooriya Ravindu, Lahiru Udara, Nuwan Thushara, Nadeeja Ashen Bandara, Nimesh Vimukhthi, Lahiru Da., Vijayakanth Viyaskanth
Afghanistan XI: Ashraf Sharafuddin, Atal Sediqullah, Karim Janat, Qais Ahmed, Farid Ahmad, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Gulbadin Naib (c), Zahir Khan, Noor Ali Zadran, Afsar Khan

6:14am: Toss Update
Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Preview
It's a replay of the 2014 men's cricket final, the last time the Asian Games accommodated the sport in their expansive programme. Sri Lanka, batting first posted a seemingly modest total of 133 all out in 19.1 overs in Incheon, South Korea. But it proved more than enough as Afghanistan could manage only 65 in 17.4 overs in their second successive gold medal matches at the continent's biggest multi-sporting event. On Wednesday, Afghanistan will have a chance to exact revenge on Sri Lanka when the two teams meet in the third quarter-final match of the 2023 Asian Games, men's cricket competition in Hangzhou, China. The winners will meet Pakistan, who beat Hong Kong on Tuesday, in the second semi-final on Friday.

Starting 2010 Asian Games, cricket became a part of the continent's grandest multi-sport event. Its presence in the Asiad grew, or so they thought even though India -- the greatest cricketing superpower in the world -- opted not to send its teams to Guangzhou and Incheon. Then, in one fell swoop, cricket got unceremoniously dropped from the 2018 Asian Games.

One team which performed creditably well so far in the Asian Games men's cricket are Afghanistan. In the 2010 edition, they lost to Bangladesh in the final by five wickets in a low-scoring gold medal match. In the next edition's final, they suffered a meltdown. For Sri Lanka, the 2014 win was nothing less than a redemption following their semi-final and bronze medal play-off defeats to Bangladesh and Pakistan, respectively.

This time, both teams are starting their respective Asian Games campaigns from the quarter-final stage.

Squads
Sri Lanka: Sahan Arachchige (c), Lahiru Udara (wk), Lasith Croospulle, Shevon Daniel, Ashen Bandara, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Nuwanidu Fernando, Ravindu Fernando, Nimesh Vimukthi, Ranitha Liyanarachchi, Sachitha Jayathilake, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Lahiru Samarakoon, Nuwan Thushara, Isitha Wijesundera
Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Afsar Zazai, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Noor Ali Zadran, Gulbadin Naib (c), Shahidullah Kamal, Zubaid Akbari, Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nijat Masood, Zahir Khan, Qais Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Sayed Shirzad.